[A/N: I do not own Twilight and the Swan Princess.]
Ch. 7
--The Great Beasts--
Charlie shook his head in disappointment as we entered the carriage. He had tried to convince me to stay for the rest of the summer, but I didn't want to. I was furious with Edward because he still didn't understand that he was good. Charlie said then said we should at least stay until Jasper and Alice arrive, but I didn't know when that was going to be. After all, it might be sunny tomorrow meaning they wouldn't come out. I was surprised that the Cullens even risked coming back today…or were they here the whole time just hiding from us. I thought about it for a moment before I realized I didn't care. I was never coming back here.
The thing that really frustrated me was that I had fallen in love with him and he didn't seem to love me back. There was no way that someone like him could ever fall in love with me though. He was perfect…I was…ordinary. Even with us both being royalty it wasn't even enough to make me worthy to be with him. He deserved someone better so why should I even try to get him to love me?
The door slammed shut as Charlie waved goodbye to the Cullens who had returned that night. I wished that Alice was here because she would know what to do. Now that I knew about Jasper's powers it would be nice if Jasper was here too to calm me down, though I doubted he could even do anything for my rage. I had so much rage that it would probably just make him uncomfortable since it was obviously making Charlie uncomfortable.
I looked out the window at Edward as the first drops of rain slid down the window. I couldn't understand the expression on his face. It looked like he was hurt that I was leaving, but happy as well. What was that supposed to mean? I crossed my arms and stared at the other side of the carriage telling myself I didn't care what he thought anymore. We wouldn't see each other anymore because I was never going to come here during the summer ever again. If the Cullens wanted to see me they would have to come visit us in our kingdom during the winter when the sun wasn't out.
"Bella," Charlie said looking at me with concerned eyes, "Are you okay? I've never seen you so upset before."
"I'm fine father," I lied looking out the window as the forest engulfed us. I thought I heard him about to say something, but whatever it was he didn't think it was necessary to repeat it. He remained silent and I wondered if it was because he couldn't think of anything to say, or if it was because I scared him. It was probably both since Charlie was never all that close to me. All our father-daughter conversations were rather…awkward.
I felt something wet run down my cheek and looked at my reflection in the glass to realize that I was crying. I knew that it was because I really didn't want to leave right now, but at the time it seemed like the right choice. I wondered if Edward would hate me forever now because I figured out what he was. Everything was fine until I had brought up my theories. What a stupid move that was! I hit my head against the cold window which reminded me of him. His cold touch still lingered on my hand when he had rescued me. I looked at my hand and smiled at the times that he had rescued me. I thought about all the times I had lunch with Edward…before I made him angry. I shook my head trying to forget about him, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't. Ever since that day he had saved me from the stallion I couldn't stop thinking about him…dreaming about him.
I shook my head again and stared out the blurry window trying to distract myself. There wasn't ever anything to see outside and with the rain it was nothing but a wet green blur. I let out a frustrated sigh because there was nothing in the world that would be able to distract me…especially on this boring trip. A blur of white went past the window outside making me sit up straight in my seat. Was it Edward? Was he coming to apologize?
The carriage came to a stop and the horses started to make a bunch of loud noises. Something had scared them, something…someone was out there. I could hear the carriage driver and knights trying to calm the horses down, but they continued to whinny in fear. I put my hand on the handle, but before I could open it Charlie's hand was on top of mine.
"Stay here," Charlie said, "I'm going to see what's going on."
"But…" I was about to complain.
"Stay." Charlie said as he got out and pointed his finger at me. We stared at each other for a brief second before he closed the door. I looked out the window trying to see if it was Edward outside, but again, the rain blurred everything. What was going on? I heard the muffled voices of people talking outside, but the pounding rain on the carriage and the whinnying of the horses blocked out what they were saying.
I listened harder and could make out one of the voices was Charlie's, but the other voices I didn't recognize. I didn't know all of the guards so it would only make sense if it was them, but I knew that someone was out there. I put my ear against the window hoping to make the voices clearer, but it only made the rain louder. I let out a sigh and sat back down in my seat with frustration. I hated the rain…
A sudden growling noise outside made me jump in my seat. It didn't sound human, no…it sounded animal. I had been wrong about what scared the horses and now Charlie was outside. I had let him go outside thinking it was safe because it was Edward outside. I quickly opened the door to the carriage and climbed outside.
"Father!" I yelled, "Are you…" I couldn't finish my sentence as I looked into the deep red eyes of two people. The male had sandy blond hair, pale skin and was absolutely beautiful. The female had fire red hair, pale skin and was absolutely beautiful as well. They both reminded me of the vampires that I knew, the only difference were their eyes. I couldn't stop looking into those eyes even though the male was coming closer to me. I couldn't move, I couldn't scream, I couldn't do anything.
"Well Princess" the male said with a smile, "we finally meet."
His voice made me snap out of shock, "Who…" I stuttered, "Who are you?" I glanced around to see all the guards on the ground. Charlie was backed against a tree next to the woman who seemed to be eyeing him like he was dinner. I looked in the male's direction, but he wasn't there anymore.
"I'm right here," his voice said from behind me making my body go stiff. His speed only confirmed the fact that he was a vampire, but he wasn't like the ones I knew. No, he was like the ones from the legends. The ones the lived off of human blood because they enjoyed it, not because it was how they survived. However, I couldn't understand why there was such a vast difference in the color of their eyes compared to Edward's eyes.
"Don't you dare harm her James!" Charlie yelled, but didn't move from his spot because of the female in front of him.
"What do you want?" I asked locking my jaw tight trying to look brave. I knew what he probably wanted, but he didn't know I knew what he was. I had been in the carriage while they killed the guards, but I hadn't heard screams… I glanced at the dead guards on the ground again.
I heard a low chuckle next to me as an icy cold hand touched my neck gently, "Don't worry, I won't do that to you. No, I need you for my plan." James' face was right next to mine and I could feel his cold breath against my face.
"I'll go with you willingly if…" I had to catch my breath, "…if you don't hurt my father." I hadn't realized how quickly I was breathing until I had to speak. He looked back and forth between me and Charlie. Another low chuckle escaped his lips as he put his face right in mine.
"Whoever said we were going to take you willingly?" James asked with an amused expression on his face. "You're coming with us whether you like it or not."
"James," the female whispered looking a bit nervous about something, I hoped it was Edward. James looked into the forest letting out the low growl I had heard earlier.
"Kill him and let's go." James ordered as he threw me over his shoulder like I was a pillow. I hit his hard shoulder and felt the wind from my lungs disappear. I gasped for air as I tried to see where Charlie was, but I couldn't because I was turned in the wrong direction.
"No!" I gasped, "Don't hurt him!" I could feel the water starting to build up behind my eyes as James turned around so I was facing where Charlie was. A loud growl erupted from James' chest that made everything shake around us.
"Victoria! Forget about him!" James barked out the order just as a loud howl came from somewhere in the forest. There was a sudden blur that made me dizzy, but when I was able to refocus my eyes we were standing right next to Victoria. I struggled to break free, but that was a lost cause. I craned my neck to see what was going on, why James and Victoria were frozen stiff in their tracks.
My heart almost stopped when I saw three large wolves in front of Charlie, but facing James and Victoria. I remembered the Quileute legends about the vampires, but it wasn't just about the vampires, it was also about werewolves. I looked at the three faces of the wolves wondering if I had met them that night at the bonfire. It would explain why all the young males were extremely large for their age.
A smirk made its way across James' face as he took a slow step back to throw a glance at Victoria. I could see their lips moving, but I couldn't hear anything coming out. There was another loud howl as the largest one with dark brown fur started running toward us. The other two disappeared before my eyes could even realize they were gone.
James took a leap backward into the air mumbling something under his breath. A strange wind started to form around us making my hair fly into my face. There was a loud ripping sound as the sky in front of James ripped open to reveal a beautiful castle right behind a lake and garden. James took a step into the opening, but before he could get his other foot in the large brown wolf bit his leg.
James let out a growl as he tried to shake the wolf off, but the wolf still didn't let go. Another growl erupted from James' chest as he jumped completely into the opening bringing the wolf with us. It felt like going through the surface of a bubble. I blinked a few times trying to clear my head and then watched as the sky sealed itself closing off the way back.
I heard a loud crunching noise as James landed on the ground. I looked around to see where the noise came from and then I found it. The wolf's front left leg was underneath James' foot and now probably broken. However, the wolf still didn't let go of James' leg.
"No!" I yelled, "Leave him alone." I started to struggle to break free from James' grip. I was afraid that this wolf, this werewolf, was one of the friends I had made at the bonfire. James let out a soft growl and threw me to the ground to start fighting with the brown wolf. Everything was just a blur because they were both amazingly fast.
A tree shattered and the brown wolf was on the ground trying to get back up as James laughed. I didn't even stop to think before I ran over to the wolf and wrapped my arms around it…protecting it…
James' laughter became even louder as he looked at me, "You can't protect that thing from me. I'm going to kill it."
"No…" I said softly knowing he'd hear me, "If you do then I'll kill myself and your plan won't work." I ran my fingers through the wolf's fur as I looked into its dark black eyes. It had stopped trying to get up and was just looking at me as if confused.
James let out a frustrated growl, "I'll just keep you from killing yourself."
I shot him a glare, "You don't expect to watch me twenty four seven do you? If you let this wolf live then you are guaranteed my safety." I wrapped my arms gently around the wolf's large neck.
James glared at me, "Fine, but the moment it steps out of this garden is the movement it dies." I tore apart my dress and tried to wrap the wolf's wounds, but it refused my help.
"Please, just let me help you." I begged as it got up with relative ease. It looked at me and shook its head. I let out a sigh as I looked around the beautiful garden and lake that we were now at. It was a full moon tonight and its beautiful glow was perfectly reflected on the water.
James yanked me up by grabbing one of my arms and there was a soft growl from the wolf behind me. I looked back at the wolf and gave it a smile while I shook my head.
"Why aren't you afraid?" James asked.
I glared at him, "Because I know what you are and it doesn't scare me."
He chuckled, "Oh?" He dragged me to the edge of the lake, "Is that because of your prince vampire boyfriend? He is going to make it a much more interesting game."
I looked at James in horror, "What are you going to do to him?" Edward's safety was more important than mine. My question just made James burst into laughter.
"You'll see." James said motioning to the lake. I just looked at him confused. "Go to the moon's reflection."
I didn't know what he was doing, but I knew he'd make me anyways. I went to where he told me to and the water swirled around me transforming me into something... The water died down and I looked at my wings…Wings?
"Now, even if you do run away he'll never know who you are. You'll turn into a swan each time the sun hits this lake." James explained, "And each night," The water swirled around me again, transforming me…back. "if you go into the moon's light on the lake you will transform back into your human form." He laughed, "I can't have either of you going to anywhere to tell people where this location is so wolf," He turned to the wolf, "If you leave here, then she dies. Of course, that's if you understand what I'm telling you." The wolf growled at James.
I came out of the lake to go stand next to the wolf. James simply smiled, "Until tomorrow night. Have fun." He disappeared in the blink of an eye leaving me alone with the wolf.
I felt my legs give out beneath me as my whole body started shaking. Cold, wet tears ran down my cheeks and I covered my face with my hands. Now I would never be able to see Edward again…It was that saying, be careful what you wish for.
There was a sudden wave of heat as the wolf laid down next to me wrapping its large body around me. I leaned against it and buried my face into its fur until I cried myself asleep.
[A/N: Okay, for the sake of the story James is going to have magic powers. I will explain more about James in a later chapter ^^. Also, for all of you that are wondering, yes the wolf is Jacob, but he doesn't know that she knows he's a werewolf...at least not yet. ^^hoped you enjoyed this chapter.]
